There will be no Martyr’s Memorial ‘A’ Division League this year. As a consolation, the All Nepal Football Association and the 14 clubs currently in the top-tier have agreed on the National League.

The football governing body and the 14 clubs’ representatives reached an agreement at the ANFA Complex on Monday to host the A Division League next year in the home and away format by providing separate grounds to all, in what is a first of its kind in the country.

Despite the ANFA officials promising to make a stride in Nepal’s club football history by organising the top-tier league in a home-away format, the lack of homework and investment has led them to postpone it.

As per their declaration during their General Assembly in April, the ANFA had planned the home-away format from December 25 this year to June 14, 2026.

“…this shift aims to bring full professionalism to the clubs and help footballers become fully professional athletes by creating year-round employment opportunities for them, and overall contribute to building a strong national team,” read a joint press statement the ANFA and clubs issued on Monday.

The statement says the decision to postpone the A Division League for next year was based on the suggestions received by the 14 clubs—Church Boys United, Machhindra FC, Nepal Police Club, Jawalakhel Youth Club, Satdobato Youth Club, New Road Team (NRT), Manang Marsyangdi Club, Friends’ Club Kopundole, Nepal Army Club, Nepal APF Football Team, Himalayan Sherpa Club, Sankata Club, Planning Boys United and Shree Bhagawati Club.

The ANFA has revealed a concrete list of dates for the activities to be performed by the governing body and clubs to make both events successful.

National League from December 24

The National League, which will start on December 24, will see participation from 10 clubs—six top-ranked A Division clubs from the 2023 season and four top teams from the ANFA President League.

The top six teams from the last season of A Division are Church Boys United, Macchindra FC, Nepal Police Club, Jawalakhel Youth Club, Satdobato Youth Club and NRT.

The President League is taking place between 10 clubs—Gaighat FC (Udayapur), Deurali Youth Club (Dhankuta), Naba Jagriti Club (Bara), Chitlang FC (Kathmandu), Tigers’ Team Tikhatal (Dolakha), Jana Jagriti Yuwa Club (Bardiya), Kakrebihar Youth Club (Surkhet), Bijay Sports Club (Kailali), Hairans Club (Tanahun) and Laligurans Association Club (Kaski)—in Hetauda, Makawanpur from Wednesday.

Organising a press meet in Makawanpur on Monday, the ANFA informed that preparations were almost complete to make the tournament a success.

After the conclusion of the President League on November 18, the eligible clubs’ entry process for the National League will begin on November 21, with players’ registration open from November 25.

The fixtures for the league will be revealed on December 5, and the match coordination meeting will take place on December 15.

The ANFA informed that the winner of the National League will represent Nepal in the AFC Challenge League, the tournament which Nepal missed this year, as the top-tier league was not organised.

A Division League from December 18, 2026

Despite the country’s biggest league taking place next year, the regulations for the competition will be made public on December 15 this year, the ANFA stated.

As the 14 clubs will need to have their own home ground for the tournament, they have been asked to complete all the necessary processes by April 13, 2026.

The teams’ entry for the home-and-away A Division League will then begin on July 19, 2026. The home grounds selected by the clubs will then be inspected on July 21.

To prepare the manpower for the tournament, a workshop will be organised for venue managers, media officers, security officers and referee coordinators on August 19, 2026. On October 20, 2026, a workshop will take place for players and match officials.

The registration of players for the league will be opened on November 17, 2026, and the fixtures for the main event will be disclosed two days later.

Meanwhile, a pre-season home-and-away tournament will be taking place from November 19 to December 17 next year.

After a match coordination meeting on December 16, the much-awaited Martyr’s Memorial ‘A’ Division League will commence on December 18.